Ealing Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has upheld a decision to extend the contract for Greener Ealing Limited (GEL), despite concerns raised about transparency and value for money.
The committee voted against referring the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration, meaning the contract extension, potentially worth £450 million over 15 years, will proceed.
Councillor Jonathan Oxley, speaking on behalf of the call-in signatories, argued that the contract extension was disproportionately large to be non-competitive. He also raised concerns that the value for money assessment was backward-looking and failed to adequately account for future investment requirements, particularly fleet renewal. Councillor Oxley highlighted persistent failures in meeting the target for missed assisted collections, disproportionately affecting vulnerable residents. He stated, The target for missed-assisted collections for disabled and elderly residents is zero, yet GEL has persistently missed this target since 2020.
However, Councillor Dominic Moffitt, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, defended the decision, stating that the process was not non-competitive and that the Local Authority Trading Company (LATCO) structure allows for council control and responsiveness. He explained that a shadow bid was conducted as a cost-effective alternative to a full competitive tender, and that this bid contained the necessary financial information.
Councillor Moffitt presented evidence of GEL's improved performance, including a significant reduction in complaints and a 17% reduction in emissions. He stated that complaints had reduced from around 3,000 a year under the previous private contractor, when it was managed by Amy as a private contractor,
to fewer than 200 in 2023. GEL has also ensured the payment of the London Living Wage to all staff.
Councillors debated the merits of the call-in, with concerns raised about the lack of transparency regarding future financial liabilities, the number of vehicles, and leasing arrangements. Councillor Oxley reiterated the need for a forward-looking assessment of capital expenditure, while Councillor Moffitt countered that the LATCO structure allows for ongoing scrutiny and adjustments to ensure future financial liabilities are managed effectively.
The committee ultimately decided that the call-in did not provide sufficient grounds to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration.
Public reports pack Thursday 22 Oct 2026 Overview and Scrutiny Committee